Safety container



A ril 21, 1964 R. D. KIMBALL SAFETY CONTAINER Filed Dec. 4, 1961 INVENTOR. ROLLOW. D. KIMBALL BY 7y WW4 HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,129,834 SAFETY CONTAINER Roliow D. Kimball, Granger, Utah, assignor to Technic Research Corporation, a corporation of Utah Filed Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,760 6 Claims. (Cl. 215-9) The present invention relates to safety containers and, more particularly, to a new and improved safety container, adapted for bottle and cap design, wherein the cap serves as a combination lock for the bottle, thereby preventing small children, for example, from getting in to bottles or other containers which might contain toxic contents.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful safety container, adapted for containing medicine, garden spray liquids, poisons, cleaning fluids, and other ingredients, even valuables, wherein the composite construction of the interlocking cap and container member is such that the segmented cap may be easily reoriented from its placement position so that removal thereof from the container proper is precluded, absent a realignment of the cap with respect to the particular interlock design of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap and container structure wherein the interlocking elements thereof are so dimensioned and positioned that a maximum of retention is present when the cap is not aligned with the bottle, thereby precluding an inadvertent prying off of the cap construction when soft materials such as polyethylene are used for fabrication.

A further object of the invention is to provide a design adaptable for a variety of constructions so that the interlocking elements of both cap and bottle components, for example, may be disposed either interiorly or exteriorly with respect to the remaining component.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of a safety container according to the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the composite cap utilized in the construction shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded View of the cap of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a section taken along both lines 66 in FIGURE 1; sections taken along both of these lines 66 in FIGURE 1 are identical.

FIGURE 7 is an elevation of a safety container accord ing to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is an elevation, partially broken away and sectioned, of the cap of the safety container of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an exploded elevation, partially broken away and sectioned, of the cap of FIGURES 7 and 8.

FIGURE 10 is a detail of the upper portion of the container member of the structure shown in FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal section taken along the line 1111 in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal section taken along the line 12-12 in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the container member in FIGURE 10 and is taken along the line 13-13 in FIG- URE 10.

In FIGURE 1 the safety container 10 is shown to comprise a container member 11 and a composite cap 12. In FIGURES 2 and 3 the cap 12 is illustrated in elevation and in exploded View, respectively, and includes a first cap member or tumbler ring 13, a second cap member 14, and a top 15 which is recessed at 16 to receive and be securely affixed to the hollow shank 17 of cap member 14.

For proper operation of the invention it is necessary that the cap members 13 and 14 be interlockingly engaged with each other, as shown, so that either is freely rotatable about the axis of the other.

Cap alignment indicia 18 and 19 are disposed upon cap member 13 and the top 15. (Hereinafter, the top 15 will be treated as an integral part of cap member 14 since, when the composite cap is assembled, the top 15 will be fused, glued or otherwise affixed securely and rigidly to the cap member 14.)

Thus, since cap members 13 and 14 have their respective cap alignment indicia 19 and 18, respectively, means are provided (in indicia 19 and 18) for exteriorly determining the relative rotational dispositions of cap members 13 and 14.

In FIGURE 2 the cap member 13 is shown to include transversely oriented, arcuate, ring segment means 20, whereas in FIGURE 5 the cap member 14 is shown to include a corresponding, arcuate, transversely oriented ring segment means 21.

As to FIGURE 4, the extremities 22 and 23 of rib segment means 20 define a gap 24. correspondingly, the end extremities 25 and 26 of rib segment means 21 define a gap 27. The rib segment means 20 in FIGURE 4 may itself be supplied with additional gaps 28 and 29 to delineate, in fact, plural rib segments 30, 31 and 32. In such event the rib segment means 20 will comprise plural rib segments such as the three rib segments 30, 31 and 32 shown in FIGURE 4. correspondingly, the rib segment means 21 may in fact include plural rib segments 33, 34 and 35 which are delineated by additional gaps 36 and 37. The rib segment means 20 and 21 with their several respective segments and the cap alignment indicia 18 and 19 are so positioned and dimensioned that when the cap alignment indicia are in fact in alignment as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the rib segment means with their respective rib segments will also be in alignment. This is illustrated in FIGURES 2, 4 and 5. It is further to be noted that the rib segment means 20 and 21 are spaced apart by a groove 38. Knurled portion 39 may also define a groove 40 with rib segment means 20. The above mentioned grooves are for the purpose of inter lockingly and selectively receiving the plural rib segment means 41 of container member 11 as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 6. These rib segment means 41 may also be separated by a groove 42 which will interlockingly receive rib segment means 20 of cap member 13.

Where the rib segment means 261 and 21 are themselves segmented as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, then additional rib segments 43 and 44 may be provided.

The structure as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 operates as follows. When the cap members 13 and 14 are in such a position that cap alignment indicia 18 and 19 are in fact in alignment as shown in FIGURE 2, then the rib segment means 21 and 21 will also be in alignment so that the cap may be advanced toward container member 11 such that rib segment means 41 will pass through the gaps 24 and 27 so that when the composite cap 12 and container member 11 are in engaged position as shown in FIGURE 1, the rib segment means 20 and 21 of the cap members 13 and 14 may be rotated through groove 42 and annular recessed area 67 so as to interlock with the rib segment means 41 of container member 11.

Container member 11 will also have a cap alignment indicia 45 so that when the indicia 45, 18 and 19 are in alignment the cap may be removed. However, when these three indicia are not in alignment, then the cap may not be removed from the container member. Where both indicia 18 and 19 are in non-alignment with indicia 45, then it would require a person to rotate both of the cap members 13 and 14 appropriately to achieve the condition shown in FIGURE 1 in which the cap may be removed. This is the advantageous safety feature of the invention.

As the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 6 illustrates, it is advisable to have the rib segment means 29 and 21 themselves segmented so that additional gaps 36 and 37, 28 and 29 may be supplied to correspond with additionally added rib segments 43 and 44 of container member 11. The various rib segments and gaps enumerated will be in alignment, as illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 6, so that when the indicia 18, 19 and 45 are in alignment the composite cap 12 may be removed, but otherwise not.

Close observation of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 will illustrate that gaps 24 and 27 are greater in extent than their corresponding opposite gaps 28 and 36. Further, rib segment means 41 and rib segment 43 of container 11 are also unequal in dimension, with the former being of greater extent that the latter, and with both registering with the gap areas 24 and 27, and 36 and 28, respectively. The reason for this difference in gap area dimension and rib segment means and segment dimension is for securing the composite cap 12 with container member 11 so that the composite cap 12 is less likely to be removed when the indicia 18, 19 and 45 are in non-alignment. Further, when such increase in rib segments and variation in spacing therebetween is used as illustrated, and particularly where the gap areas or some of same are in nominal 180 relationship, the composite cap 12 will be less adapted for removal when, say, the composite cap is rotated 180 with respect to the position shown in FIG- UR'E 1. Were it otherwise, and were the cap and container member of materials of a soft polyethylene, then the rib segment means 26 and 21 or" composite cap 12 might be conceivably served as fulcrums for the prying off of the opposite side of the cap from the container member 11. Where the segmented construction of FIG- URES 4, 5 and 6 are used, however, this chance is avoided, even for very soft materials.

Yet further rigidity of the structure when interlocked is achieved by the provision of the small, rib segment lugs 44 and the gaps associated therewith (see 29 and 37) of FIGURES 4 and 5, as these lugs 44 will be in engagement with the rib segment means or rib segments of FIGURES 4 and 5 for all cap positions excepting, of course, that position at which the cap may be releasably withdrawn from container member 11.

FIGURES 7 through 13 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention. The safety container 46 is shown to include a container member 47 and composite cap 48 comprising members 49, 56 and 51. When the cap members 50 and 51 are interlockingly assembled for relative rotational movement, and the top 49 afiixedly secured to cap member 50 (and hereinafter simply considered as an integral part of cap member 50), the composite cap structure will appear as illustrated in FIGURE 8, appropriate sections being taken and shown in FIGURES 11 and 12.

The container member 47 will be discussed first. It will be seen that the container member 47 has a reduced neck 48' which is supplied with arcuate rib segment means Q and 5Q, the end extremities 51 and 52 of which respectively defined upper and lower gaps 53 and 54. The rib segment means Q and Q may comprise respective plural segments 55, 55 and 56 and 56, and additional gaps '57 and 58 be supplied so that greater holding force or a tension may be provided for the structure as in the case of the first embodiment described in FIGURES 1 through 6. Interior rib segment means 59 is supplied cap member 51), and interior rib segment means 60 is supplied cap member 51. Additionally, rib segments 61 and 62 may be supplied the respective cap members 56 and 51, the various rib segments delineating cap areas 63, 64, 65 and 66.

FIGURES 7 through 12 illustrate the aligned condition of the structure so that the various rib segment means and gaps enumerated are in respective alignment so that the container 47 will receive the composite cap 48. Also, and similar to the construction of FIGURES 1 through 6, it is desired, when the segmented rib segment structure is employed in the container 47 and composite cap 48, that elements 59 be greater in dimension than 61, 69 greater than 62, 55' greater than 55, 56' greater than 56, 53 greater than 54, 57 greater than 58, and so on. If such be the case then a rotation of the composite cap 48 will not weaken the interlocking effect of the structure should soft materials be used in fabrication, since the segments involved will not operate as fulcrums for the pivotal removement of composite cap 48 from the bottle member 47.

It is further desirous as illustrated in FIGURE 13 that the upper rib segments and rib segment means of the container member 47 be slightly less in dimension girth than the extension of the lower rib segments and rib segment means. This aids in further rigidity in the over-all structure and makes less likely the inadvertent removal of compisite cap 48 from container member 47 when the respective indicia 60', 61' and 62' of the cap members 50 and 51 and container member 47 are in non-alignment.

The operation of the structure in FIGURES 7 through 13 is substantially similar to the operation of structure shown in FIGURES 1 through 6; however, the rib segments and rib segment means are disposed interiorly, this time, with regard to the cap structure but exteriorly with regard to the container member 47. As before, annular groove areas 63, 63, 64 and 65 are supplied for container member 47 and the cap members 511 and 51 of composite cap 43 so as to accommodate the rib segments and rib segment means of FIGURES 11 through 13.

Where indicia 60', 61', and 62 are in alignment, the composite cap may be engaged and interlocked with container 47 by the rotation of the cap members 511 and 51 in respective grooves 63 and 63' and the cooperation therewith of the rib segments 59, 61, 66 and 62. Once the cap members are out of alignment the composite cap will be unable to be removed from the container construction. When, however, the indicia are in alignment, then the various gaps, rib segments, and rib segment means will be in releasable alignment as here and before explained so that the composite cap may be removed from the structure.

Finally, it will be noted that the alignment indicia 18, 19, 45 and 6t), 61 and 62', when taking the form of protuberances, enable the opening of the safety container in the dark. Of course, painted dots, raised or otherwise, might also conceivably be used. The indicia could also have patterns other than rectilinear for indicating openable position, howbeit the rectilinear arrangement disclosed is deemed preferred for convenience.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall in the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A safety container including, in combination, a container member, a cap cooperable with said container member and having a cap member and a tumbler ring interlockingly engaged therewith, said cap member and said tumbler ring being freely rotatable with respect to each other and individually accessible for individual, manual rotation, said cap member and tumbler ring having individual, arcuate, transversely oriented rib segment means mutually spaced by an arcuate groove therebetween, the spacing between extremities of the individual rib segment means defining gaps, said container member having a pair of mutually spaced, transversely oriented, aligned, arcuate rib segment means mutually spaced by an arcuate groove, the individual extremities of said rib segment means respectively defining aligned gaps, the rib segment means of said cap, when and only when mutually aligned, being dimensioned to pass through the said gaps of said container member when aligned therewith when said cap is advanced toward to engage said container member and being dimensioned for interlocking at said grooves with said rib segment means of said container member upon the subsequent rotation of said cap member with respect to said container member, the rib segment means of one of said container member and said cap, as provided by said cap member and said tumbler ring, protruding outwardly, and the rib segment means of the remaining of said container member and said cap protruding inwardly, said container member and said cap member and tumbler ring having alignment indicia disposed in mutual, rectilinear alignment when said rib segment means of said cap and said container member are disengaged so as to permit the withdrawal of said cap from said container member.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein the rib segment means of said cap members protrude inwardly and the rib segment means of said container member protrude outwardly.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said alignment indicia comprise respective protuberances.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said rib segment means of said cap members and said container member individually comprise plural, spaced rib segments, corresponding rib segments or" said container rib segment means being in mutual alignment, corresponding rib segments of said cap rib segment means being alignable and, when aligned, insertable through the spacing between container member rib segments to interlock therewith upon the relative rotation thereof with respect thereto, and wherein at least some of said rib segments of individual rib segment means are nominally disposed in diametrically opposed relationship and also in quadrature with respect to spacing therebetween.

5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein at least one rib segment of the uppermost one of said rib segment means of said container member is smaller than its corresponding rib segment of said rib segment means of (J said container member immediately therebelow, the spacing between adjacent rib segments of the lowermost one of said rib segment means of said cap being registerable with said corresponding rib segment and being greater than the spacing between adjacent rib segments of the rib segment means of said cap immediately thereabove, said latter spacing being registerable with said one rib segment.

6. A safety container including, in combination, a container member, a cap cooperable with said container member and having a cap member and a tumbler ring therewith interlockingly engaged, said cap member and said tumbler ring being freely rotatable with respect to each other an dindividually accessible for individual, manual rotation, said cap member and tumbler ring having individual, arcuate, transversely oriented rib segment means mutually spaced by an arcuate groove therebetween, the spacing between extremities of the individual rib segment means defining gaps, said container member having a pair of mutually spaced, transversely oriented, aligned, arcuate rib segment means mutually spaced by an arcuate groove, the individual extremities of said rib segment means respectively defining aligned gaps, the rib segment means of said cap, when and only when mutually aligned, being dimensioned to pass through the said gaps of said container member when aligned therewith when said cap is advanced toward to engage said container member and being dimensioned for interlocking at said grooves with said rib segment means of said container member upon the subsequent rotation of said cap member with respect to said container member, the rib segment means of one of said container member and said cap, as provided by said cap member and said tumbler ring, protruding outwardly, and the rib segment means of the remaining of said container member and said cap member and tumbler ring protruding inwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 107,770 Hough Sept. 27, 1870 446,657 Baum Feb. 17, 1891 841,668 Cowles Jan. 22, 1907 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,356 Great Britain July 19, 1884 

1. A SAFETY CONTAINER INCLUDING, IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER MEMBER, A CAP COOPERABLE WITH SAID CONTAINER MEMBER AND HAVING A CAP MEMBER AND A TUMBLER RING INTERLOCKINGLY ENGAGED THEREWITH, SAID CAP MEMBER AND SAID TUMBLER RING BEING FREELY ROTATABLE WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND INDIVIDUALLY ACCESSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUAL, MANUAL ROTATION, SAID CAP MEMBER AND TUMBLER RING HAVING INDIVIDUAL, ARCUATE, TRANSVERSELY ORIENTED RIB SEGMENT MEANS MUTUALLY SPACED BY AN ARCUATE GROOVE THEREBETWEEN, THE SPACING BETWEEN EXTREMITIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL RIB SEGMENT MEANS DEFINING GAPS, SAID CONTAINER MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF MUTUALLY SPACED, TRANSVERSELY ORIENTED, ALIGNED, ARCUATE RIB SEGMENT MEANS MUTUALLY SPACED BY AN ARCUATE GROOVE, THE INDIVIDUAL EXTREMITIES OF SAID RIB SEGMENT MEANS RESPECTIVELY DEFINING ALIGNED GAPS, THE RIB SEGMENT MEANS OF SAID CAP, WHEN AND ONLY WHEN MUTUALLY ALIGNED, BEING DIMENSIONED TO PASS THROUGH THE SAID GAPS OF SAID CONTAINER MEMBER WHEN ALIGNED THEREWITH WHEN SAID CAP IS ADVANCED TOWARD TO ENGAGE SAID CONTAINER MEMBER AND BEING DIMENSIONED FOR INTERLOCKING AT SAID GROOVES WITH SAID RIB SEGMENT MEANS OF SAID CONTAINER MEMBER UPON THE SUBSEQUENT ROTATION OF SAID CAP MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID CONTAINER MEMBER, THE RIB SEG- 